Tech_Interview_Prep

CAP Theorem & Consistency Models

Why a distributed system can't have perfect consistency, availability, and partition tolerance all at once — and what real systems trade off.

Q1.What does the CAP theorem state?

Q2.In CAP terms, why is partition tolerance not really an optional trade-off in practice for a distributed system?

Q3.What does "eventual consistency" mean?

Q4.A system that chooses Availability over Consistency during a network partition (an "AP" system) will do what?